A Place for Inspiration
The Folly Farm Centre has teamed up with some of the UK’s most acclaimed educators, naturalists and field experts to bring you exciting new opportunities.
Whether you want to learn more about wildlife or gain skills to promote and interpret the natural world, the Centre has created a wide range of adult courses to meet your needs. Try out an evening owl prowl through the woods with our experts or treat yourself to an all-inclusive residential wildlife film-making weekend.
Available Courses
Click on a category below…
Family Bushcraft
With: Folly Farm Staff
Not sure what to do with the kids this Bank Holiday? Want to do something different? Why not test your survival skills whilst enjoying the delights of the natural world at Folly Farm! Our tutors will lead you on a journey of exploration; starting from the basics of making a fire and setting up camp to exciting survival games. End the day by relaxing in your shelter whilst being warmed by the fire you have made and enjoying a tasty snack. A great family day out!
Cost: £15
Half Term Bushcraft October (7-12 year olds)
With: Folly Farm Staff
A fun and adventurous day learning bushcraft techniques and testing your survival skills whilst enjoying the delights of the natural world at Folly Farm. Tutors will lead you on a journey of exploration; starting from the basics of making a fire and setting up camp to adventurous survival games. End the day by relaxing in your shelter whilst being warmed by the fire you have made and enjoying a tasty snack.
Cost: £15
Owl Course
With: Chris Sperring
Discover the secret life of the Folly Farm owls with local expert Chris Sperring as he takes through a helpful course on identifying native owl species. Learn about their habits, listen to their calls and watch them hunt in an enjoyable evening through which you will get to know these beautiful, elusive birds.
For more information or to book please contact Avon Wildlife Trust 0117 9177270 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Cost: £20
Wildlife Film Making – Badgers & Butterflies
3-day Introduction to wildlife film making
Learn how to craft wildlife films that will inspire others with tutors from Bristol’s international wildlife tv industry.
This residential summer course from will include filming badgers at dusk as they forage for food and daytime filming in Folly Farm’s beautiful wildflower meadows. Unspoilt by pesticides and fertilisers, they brim with flowers and attract bees and butterflies.
You’ll gain hands-on filming experience on location and learn about the field craft that will bring you closer to animals. Working alongside professional cameramen and editors you’ll work in a small group to produce a short film which you can keep. We’ll introduce you to the ethics and legal implications of filming wild animals and there will be an opportunity to have one-to-one sessions with tutors to discuss your own film projects and ideas. Evenings are for enjoying good food and good company and for hearing Tales from the Bush. Camera tutors will be John Waters and Tim Shepherd. Read more about our Introduction to Wildlife Filmmaking Courses or find out about the tutors by visiting http://www.bristolwildfilm.co.uk
Cost: £495
The Folly Farm Centre course programme offers everyone the opportunity to get involved with their environment and enjoy the countryside. There’s something for everyone – from professional development to those who already work within the environmental sector, to activities for those who have a passion for exploring their natural heritage through art, photography, hands-on craft, or just understanding what makes this a very special place.
" the course was fantastic, the tutors inspirational and the Folly Farm Centre and surrounding reserve is a wildlife film makers paradise"
"Thanks so much – the family have had such a fab time with you at Folly Farm! Such memories and experiences"
"Thank you for such a fantastic day, I have learnt a lot from such inspirational and passionate tutors and have been re-introduced to the wonder of the natural world"